Trade facilitation in times of pandemic: practices from the East and North- East Asia


28 August 2020

Based on accumulated lessons and practices in ENEA countries during COVID-19 pandemic, the paper asses the measures that can be adopted by other countries in their battle against the pandemic. It also discusses measures that can be maintained in the post-pandemic “new normal”, as well as preparedness that should be institutionalized for future emergencies.

As countries in this sub-region begin to reopen and resume work, it is essential that we prevent a second wave of the pandemic, make supply chains more resilient and boost confidence in the global economy through strengthened coordination, as well as improved and holistic trade facilitation measures. Countries that have not yet implemented these trade facilitation measures should accelerate their process.

The COVID-19 pandemic is considered the most serious health crisis and the greatest challenge to humankind since the Second World War. Although countries in East and North-East Asia (ENEA) were the first to be hit by COVID-19, they have so far been successful in controlling the outbreak with relatively low fatalities, partially thanks to various containment measures.

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High-level meeting on regional cooperation for trade and transport connectivity in the age of pandemics in Asia and the Pacific

02 December 2020
15:00 - 17:00 hrs.,  
Meetings

With trade and transport connectivity becoming a central consideration in the COVID-19 pandemic response as well as building back better, a high level regional meeting explored how trade and transport facilitation measures can be implemented more effectively during and in the aftermath of the unprecedented crisis to improve the countries’ resilience.

Capacity building webinar on smart road and rail solutions for transport connectivity in the COVID-19 context

30 November - 01 December 2020
Webinar

A greater use of smart technologies can significantly reduce physical contacts among participants of international supply chains while ensuring the seamless flow of goods and services – an element of great importance in the time of pandemics and other similar disruptions. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted or facilitated innovative solutions in the freight sector with countries leveraging "intelligent" technologies in rail and road transport.

Seamless trade and transport connectivity in Asia and the Pacific: regional cooperation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic


20 November 2020

This report has been prepared in line with the ESCAP framework on socio-economic response to COVID-19 and as part of the activities of the UNDA project “Transport and trade connectivity in the age of pandemics: contactless, seamless and collaborative UN solutions”.

The Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused severe strain in international trade worldwide and in Asia and the Pacific, highlighting the need for more resilient and efficient cross-border transport and trade connectivity, including via greater regional cooperation in legal and technical and operational efforts.

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COVID-19 and its impact on railway sector in Asia and the Pacific


30 October 2020

The policy brief explores challenges and opportunities for sustainable railway transport connectivity in the times of COVID-19 pandemic. 

The resilience shown by railway transport during the pandemic gives an opportunity to railways of the region to turn this crisis and period of uncertainty into an opportunity by undertaking measures to increase the comparative advantages of railway transport enhancing sustainability of transport networks.

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COVID-19 and its impact on shipping and port sector in Asia and the Pacific


30 September 2020

The policy brief focuses on the impact of the pandemic on the shipping and port industry and the policy responses on COVID-19 in Asia-Pacific. 

The COVID-19 Pandemic calls for a multi-sectoral response in Asia and the Pacific to protect people and enhance resilience, support economic recovery and restore supply chains and support SMEs. Shipping and ports are a major part of such a response. For most countries in Asia and the Pacific, shipping represents a doorway to global economy. In many cases, especially in SIDS, shipping is a lifeline linking local communities to the regional and global markets and sustaining local social and economic development.

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Seamless and smart connectivity along the Asian Highway network in the time of COVID-19


30 September 2020

This technical note aims to offer policy recommendations for policy responses using new technologies and smart road solutions to preserve the regional transport connectivity in the time of the pandemics and other similar disruptions.

Freight transport operations poses the risks during the pandemics, especially if it is not fully computerized. As documents and goods continue to be subjected to physical checks for customs and other regulatory purposes, crew members and staff at border-crossing points and control terminals are exposed to the risk of contagion by the nature of their work. in this context, the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) and intelligent transport systems (ITS) is directly relevant to the pandemic response and recovery policies.

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Digital Transformation in Latin American and Caribbean logistics


30 September 2020

This FAL Bulletin continues the Reflections on Disruptive Technologies in Transport that ECLAC has been publishing through this medium. The present edition analyses the importance of the digital transformation of logistics, especially in the current circumstances where the need for fluid, safe and resilient logistics calls for additional actions on traceability and process facilitation.

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S2000584_en.pdf

Monitoring the Transport Policy Response to COVID-19 along the Regional Transport Network in Asia and the Pacific

While the international movement of people and, to some extent, of freight transport has enabled the COVID-19 spread, the role of transport connectivity in dealing with the crisis and post-crisis recovery is more critical than its role in the initial spread of the pandemic. Regional cooperation on transport connectivity helps to provide effective response in the course of a pandemic and in the subsequent recovery efforts rooted in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, building resilience to future pandemics and crises.

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